Unrestricted Dao Lord

At the entrance of the Fire Melting Cave, a figure gradually came into view.

Zhang Yuan stood at the mouth of the cave.

He saw a familiar figure.

"Master..."

A wave of joy washed over Zhang Yuan, and he was just about to speak.

But a series of sharp gazes fell upon him, forcing him to swallow his words.

His eyes widened as he saw the figures, and a shiver ran through him.

Zhang Yuan was no ordinary Inner Sect Disciple.

As a prodigy of Yishui Peak, he was naturally well-informed and recognized the identities of these figures at a glance. They were all either Elders or Peak Masters from the various peaks.

All of them were masters of the Postnatal Realm!

"Uh... did something happen?"

Zhang Yuan’s face was a mask of confusion.

For so many Postnatal Realm experts to gather at once was certainly unusual.

Just then, Zhang Yuan’s master, Lu Cangfeng, who was also the Peak Master of Yishui Peak, dashed forward and shielded Zhang Yuan behind him.

"Zhang Yuan, tell us exactly what happened inside the Fire Melting Cave. Who was it that triggered such a shocking phenomenon?"

"Reporting to Master..."

Zhang Yuan recalled carefully. "It doesn’t seem like anything happened. A month ago, Senior Sister Pei, Junior Brother Zhang, and I entered the Fire Melting Cave together, and then we each found our own spots to cultivate."

"Later, I felt the Fire Melting Cave getting hotter and hotter, so I moved to a spot closer to the entrance and stayed there until now..."

Zhang Yuan’s words made everyone frown slightly.

It was as good as saying nothing at all.

Zhang Yuan had been cultivating near the entrance of the Fire Melting Cave. He was clearly oblivious to the situation deeper inside, having spent the entire month in a daze.

"Someone else is coming out..."

Soon, a second figure emerged from the Fire Melting Cave.

This time, it was Pei Hongluan.

The Peak Master of Jade Peak also questioned Pei Hongluan in detail.

Her account was basically the same as Zhang Yuan’s.

Someone frowned and said, "Pei Hongluan and Zhang Yuan’s Cultivation is still too low. They couldn’t withstand the scorching earth qi in the Fire Melting Cave, so they’ve been cultivating near the entrance the whole time. This phenomenon must have been triggered from the depths of the cave, so they know nothing..."

Everyone nodded silently in agreement.

"Wait, Zhang Yuan. You just said you entered the Fire Melting Cave a month ago with Pei Hongluan and a Junior Brother Zhang. Which Junior Brother Zhang?"

Lu Cangfeng suddenly asked his disciple.

Faced with his master’s question, Zhang Yuan was slightly taken aback.

"Reporting to Master, it was of course Junior Brother Zhang Su, the one who caused a sensation in the Inner Sect by achieving ’Three Stars in One Day’! That’s right, where is Junior Brother Zhang Su? Where did he go? He didn’t come out before us, did he?"

Zhang Yuan looked around but couldn’t find any sign of Zhang Su.

SWISH.

The moment he said this, nearly everyone’s gaze instantly fell upon Qu Zhengliu, the Peak Master of Bamboo Sword Peak, who was standing in the crowd.

They were well aware of the "history" between Zhang Su and Bamboo Sword Peak.

They even knew that Zhang Su’s very spot in the Fire Melting Cave had, in fact, been taken from the Bamboo Sword Peak disciple, Li Heng.

"..."

Qu Zhengliu fell silent at once.

No matter how composed he tried to appear, he couldn’t maintain his composure at this moment.

"Hmph..."

Qu Zhengliu could only let out a cold snort.

But he didn’t argue.

Things like this would only get worse the more he tried to explain.

The more he argued and explained, the more he would become a laughingstock to the others.

Besides, he believed Zhang Su was a typical Dharma Protector Disciple. He might have made a name for himself in the Inner Sect for a while based on his combat strength, but as time went on, his potential would eventually be exhausted, and he would gradually fall behind, never able to catch up to the prodigies of the Inheritance Sequence.

"Zhang Su also has an Outer Force Cultivation. It’s impossible for him to have stayed in the depths of the Fire Melting Cave."

Qu Zhengliu said only this, then fell silent.

The others naturally understood what he meant.

The phenomenon originated from the depths of the Fire Melting Cave, so it couldn’t possibly have been caused by Zhang Su.

"Huh? The phenomenon seems to be dissipating..."

Someone exclaimed in surprise.

Everyone hurriedly looked up.

Sure enough, the phenomenon above the Fire Melting Cave was indeed beginning to fade away.

However, they still hadn’t found the person who had triggered it.

They could only stare intently at the cave entrance.

Who else would emerge from the Fire Melting Cave?

...

Deep within the Fire Melting Cave, the earth qi was so thick that one couldn’t see their hand in front of their face.

The scorching heat felt as if it could melt a person.

BUZZ.

The Identity Token on Zhang Su’s body began to vibrate gently.

Although Zhang Su was immersed in his Cultivation, he still felt the vibration of the Identity Token.

’Is my time up?’

Zhang Su slowly opened his eyes.

He took a moment to feel the Inner Strength within his body.

’Hm? My Cultivation...’

Zhang Su was slightly startled.

His Cultivation had actually broken through without him even realizing it.

He had advanced from the Early Stage of Outer Force to the Mid-Stage of Outer Force!

Although it was only the advancement of a minor realm, the speed was simply too fast.

He had only been cultivating in the Fire Melting Cave for a mere month.

Zhang Su immediately focused his mind and checked his status panel.

Host: Zhang Su

Cultivation: Outer Force (Middle Stage)

Wind and Thunder Sword Technique: Compatibility 95% (Great Success)

Fiery Sun Divine Technique: Compatibility 100% (Great Success)

Blazing Sun Divine Technique: Compatibility 100% (Great Success)

Extreme Yang Divine Technique: Compatibility 100% (Great Success)

Compatibility Value: 0

’As expected, all three Divine Techniques have reached Great Success!’

’Does this mean I’ve reached the Small Trifusion realm and can merge the three streams of Inner Strength into one to strike with Inner Force?’

Zhang Su was incredibly excited.

His cultivation efficiency in the Fire Melting Cave was surprisingly high, several times greater than outside.

One month of Cultivation in the Fire Melting Cave was equivalent to several months outside.

With all Three Yang Divine Techniques at Great Success, he had theoretically reached the Small Trifusion realm.

But whether he could actually perform the Three Forces Unite with his Inner Strength and deliver a strike of Inner Force was something he had to test for himself.

So, with a thought, Zhang Su mobilized the three streams of Inner Strength within his body.

The three streams moved according to his will, instantly merging together under his command.

Originally, these three streams of Inner Strength belonged to three separate Unparalleled Divine Techniques.

Normally, they could not be merged.

But now, they fused with ease.

And there didn’t seem to be any conflict between them whatsoever.

All three streams of Inner Strength possessed the Extreme Yang attribute.

The Three Forces Unite of the Inner Strength gave birth to a brand-new form of Inner Strength. It was also of the Extreme Yang attribute, but even more ferocious, and was known as "Little Three Yang Power."

"Hah!"

Zhang Su channeled the power into his palm.

He had cultivated so many Martial Techniques.

Among them, naturally, were Palm Techniques.

Zhang Su struck the ground directly with his palm, and the "Little Three Yang Power" erupted instantly.

There was no earth-shattering sound.

Zhang Su discovered that the hard ground was like tofu, easily imprinted with a Palm Seal from his hand.

Moreover, fine cracks spread across the ground’s surface.

This was enough to show just how terrifying the power of that palm strike was.

’If this were to strike a person’s body...’

Zhang Su was secretly alarmed.

How could a body of flesh and blood withstand such terrifying Power?

This was Inner Force!

It could penetrate the body, and its power was terrifying.

The characteristics of Zhang Su’s Little Three Yang Power were its Extreme Yang attribute and its incredible ferocity.

’This is just the Little Three Yang Power. If the Three Yang Divine Techniques reached Perfection, and I fused them into the Great Three Yang Power, the might would be...’

A smile touched the corners of Zhang Su’s lips.

He was very satisfied with the Inner Force produced by his Small Trifusion.

This single strike was completely comparable to that of an Inner Force Martial Artist.

However, Zhang Su was, after all, only at the Mid-stage of Outer Force Cultivation.

He was not yet a true Inner Force Martial Artist.

Therefore, there was a limit to how many times he could strike with the Inner Force from his Small Trifusion.

At present, he could at most strike with Inner Force a few times.

In terms of the number of sustained Inner Force strikes, he was currently inferior to a true Inner Force Martial Artist.

But in terms of destructive power, his Little Three Yang Power was in no way inferior to any other Inner Force.

’The month is up, and my gains have been substantial. It’s just that a spot in the Fire Melting Cave is hard to come by. I wonder when I’ll be able to enter again...’

Zhang Su was somewhat reluctant to leave the Fire Melting Cave.

After all, the cultivation efficiency within it was simply too high.

If he could, he would love to stay and cultivate in the Fire Melting Cave every single moment.

Unfortunately, that was impossible.

Everyone was scrambling for a spot in the Fire Melting Cave.

Being able to secure this spot was the result of his master’s and Elder Wang Dakui’s efforts.

Staying in the Fire Melting Cave indefinitely?

Not even those from the Sect Leader’s own line could do that.

Zhang Su picked up the Cold Frost Sword from the ground.

It was a bit hot to the touch.

However, by circulating the Three Yang Divine Techniques, he could bear it.

Then, Zhang Su headed directly toward the entrance of the Fire Melting Cave.